JTUCC call govt to make social security mandatory

Kathmandu, Dec 29, 2019 : The fourth labour parliament of the Joint Trade Union Coordination Centre (JTUCC) has recommended the government to make social security scheme mandatory by amending the existing tax law.

Noting that the implementation of contribution-based social security programme has witnessed additional complications, the JTUCC said ill-efforts are being made to create unnecessary dispute and rumour on social security scheme for fulfilling vested interests of a handful business persons.

The centre has also demanded the government to incentivize those joining the scheme and discourage those ignoring to become the part as well as bring those to justice who remained adamant not to join classification list.

The meeting drew a conclusion to celebrate 2020 mainly to campaign for effective implementation of social security scheme and labour law.

The meeting also decided to mount public pressure for the full-fledged implementation of the social security scheme with the formulation of social security work procedure and amendment in a way to include formal, informal and self-employed labourers.

Though a year has elapsed since the social security scheme has been announced there is no remarkable participation of employers and employees. According to Social Security Fund, as many as 11,902 employers and 135,449 employees have been so far enlisted in the scheme. As of now contribution amount Rs 333.51 million has been deposited in the fund.

-According to the central bureau of statistics, about 900,000 employment providing agencies have been so far registered in the country.

The stakeholders have demanded ensuring legal provision of not to slash employees’ existing perks and benefits while implementing the social security scheme. The attention of the government was drawn to avail the cash amount of one per cent social security tax collected from workers and civil servants.

Also, the meeting has urged to arrange at least 10 per cent representation of the workers in each elected structure and policy making levels.

The meeting has decided to initiate implementation of the legal provisions enabling environment towards the creation of employment opportunity in the country and discouraging work force to opt for foreign employment.  

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Ishwar Pokharel warned that there was no ‘if and but’ to the employers in the implementation of the contribution-based social security scheme.

Pokharel urged the employers to shun their traditional and narrow mindset regarding the scheme. “Effective implementation of the Labour Act is a must. There is no exemption in it, this is punishable,” Pokharel clarified the government position.

Expecting the constructive public pressure for its implementation, he hoped that the upcoming campaign of the JTUCC would be guided towards the same.  

On the occasion, Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security Binod Shrestha assured that the money collected in the social security fund won’t be misused and urged all the employers and employees to immediately participate in the scheme. 

Chairman of Nepal Trade Union Congress Pushkar Acharya argued that public pressure should be piled for the full implementation of the scheme and the Labour Act.

Likewise, outgoing chairman Binod Shrestha handed over the responsibility of the JTUCC to Chairman of Nepal Trade Union Congress Acharya. The leadership of the JTUCC is being transferred in every next year.

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